Does drug use make you stupid permanently?

[Deadend66]

In the past SWIM has delved into the world of psychoactive drugs and stimulants and has found, now having experianced what they have to offer, that SWIM no longer wants anything to do with drugs of any kind. SWIM is now trying to go to school to pursue a law degree and is concerned that SWIMs drug exploration may have made that dream difficult to attain.

I have heard it said in these forums that if one has lost any degree of intelligence that it will not be apparent to him. This does not supply SWIM with much comfort. I am going to chronicle SWIMs drug experiance and would like feedback from anyone and everyone who feels they could be helpful. If you are a person who would consider themselves a person who has succeeded in life and does drugs I would appreciate your feedback especially.


Smoked marijuana first time freshman year of highschool and continued to smoke maybe once a month

Near the end of the same year SWIM tried DXM for the first time and two consecutive times within that month.

Continued to smoke marijuana on a usually irregular basis until the end of SWIMs junior year.

Over that summer Oxycodone was perscribed to SWIM. Aside from the perscribed dosages SWIM took shall we say more than the recommended ammount about 10 times, 2 of which SWIM combined it with DXM (which was an extraordinary experiance) In that month SWIM also took DXM alone about 5 times. Almost all of SWIMS DXM experiances were with about 400-500 mgs. One time it was 800-900

About a year after this SWIM started smoking pot every weekend and sometimes during the week days. During this time SWIM tried E. Upon coming down from the first pill SWIM took one more. They were G's up hoes down if I remember.

After this SWIM tried shrooms on two seperate occasions. Each time SWIM took less than an 8th.


So judging by the given information what do you guys have to say about this? Will SWIMs past drug experiances come back to haunt him? Have they already?

[Bajeda]

My panda knows a number of people who have a far more extensive history with drugs (having tried many more different kinds on many more occasions than swiy) who are still brilliant and can perform very well academically. I doubt swiy's intelligence has been impaired to any noticeable degree, if at all really.

Excessive (or even regular) drug use can make excellent performance in an academic environment more difficult, but it doesn't preclude good performance entirely. It all depends on the person and how well they can manage the various aspects of their life. For instance, one would want to cut down on drug use when getting ready for LSATs, but because the drug use could distract them from the task at hand, not because it will kill the brain cells with the pertinent information. Perhaps if one consumed ecstasy tablets regularly and/or consumed other potentially neurotoxic substances like smoking methamphetamine there would be a tangible degree of cognitive impairment, but otherwise I don't think swiy has anything to worry about. He didn't screw himself up with his bout of drug use, and I doubt if there is any lasting damage from any of the things he did (DXM would be more questionable IMO, but see wiki for more details on that).

[Panthers007]

A similar specious rumor was circulated by an idiot I know. I had a bike accident and hit my head (wearing a helmet). I was fine. But the idiot told me that I must have suffered "brain-damage" as a result. He then proceeded to reassure me that, because of my 'brain-damage', I would never know the difference. Off to a top-end neurologist went I.

It was utter bullshit. No it did not. No it will not. No - the idiot was no friend of mine. Scared me to death (at age 20 - many years from then now), and cost me a fortune in tests etc.

SWIM is fine. SWIM can merrily work towards his law degree without fear that his brain-pan has cooked his eggs. And those who may tell you/believe so - are misguided. And that is being generous.

Actually the brain is an amazing organ. If you lose one half of it - the other half can/will compensate the functions to another portion of the critter. Self-righting mechanism. And SWIM toking some pot and/or trying DXM will be no excuse to SWIM never being Clarence Darrow. That blame will lay squarely on SWIM's own shoulders.

[cyndi]

Based on what swiy has said, he will be fine, swim agrees. She thinks a lot is propanda such as the TV commercials that used to say this is your brain on drugs if one has seen those. Swiy's past drug use doesn't appear that terrible. She says go for that law degree, swiy will be ok and good luck!